In two years, coach Curt Cignetti has taken a program known for failure to the doorstep of euphoria. Monday, Indiana faces Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship, a sentence that doesn’t seem real, no matter how many times it is written, read or screamed at such volume that it startles the neighbors.

Indiana's rise isn't about stars or spending sprees. It's about experience, evaluation and a transfer portal blueprint that has turned the Hoosiers into the national title favorite

The window for college football players to enter the transfer portal has officially passed, but players in the portal can still find new homes.

At least 28 players have transferred from the Dukes, with 10 of those departures following former head coach Bob Chesney to UCLA. James Madison will have to replace multiple starters or key contributors, including safety Tyler Brown, linebacker Drew Spinogatti, and defensive lineman Sahir West.

The CFP Championship Game Exemplifies the College Football Landscape in 2026: Similarities Between Indiana and Miami

Heisman winner and Miami native Fernando Mendoza leads Indiana against the Hurricanes in the national championship game. Why didn't UM recruit him?

Indiana football is down seven players vs. Miami, but with no surprises. Kickoff specialist Brendan Franke is questionable for the national championship game.